On January 15, 2025, the U.S. government, under President Joe Biden, announced plans to remove Cuba from its list of State Sponsors of Terrorism. This decision comes alongside diplomatic efforts aimed at fostering goodwill between the two nations.
In response, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel declared that his government would release 533 political prisoners as part of a reconciliation initiative. The Catholic Church in Cuba has played a mediating role in these negotiations, primarily concerning individuals imprisoned following widespread protests in 2021 over power outages and rising food prices.
The Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the U.S. decision but clarified that the release of prisoners was not directly linked to it, instead attributing it to the spirit of the Ordinary Jubilee year announced by Pope Francis for 2025.
Meanwhile, the historical significance of January 15 was also noted in Germany, marking the 35th anniversary of the public storming of the Stasi headquarters in East Berlin. On this day in 1990, thousands of citizens, emboldened by the fall of the Berlin Wall, demanded access to the files of the former secret police, leading to the eventual dissolution of the Stasi.
Former East German Foreign Minister Markus Meckel reflected on the event as a crucial moment in history, highlighting the role of civic activists in dismantling the oppressive regime of the GDR.
As the U.S. moves to improve relations with Cuba, concerns linger over the potential reversal of these diplomatic efforts, particularly with the upcoming presidential election and the possibility of Donald Trump reinstating stricter policies.